Just days after the government announced the dates of this year’s autumn hunting season, which does not begin until next month, the first reports of illegal hunting, in four different locations around the islands. Some of the autumn season’s first birds heading south for the winter, a marsh harrier and a night heron- both protected species, were shot.
Quite apart from the ecological threat stemming from the slaughter of protected birds over Malta each autumn and spring, there is a wider question at hand – that of respect for the law of the land. In these cases reported earlier this week, not only were the birds in question protected species but their taking last weekend occurred well before the beginning of the season on 1 September.
And while all those concerned – the government and hunting lobbies included – have called for zero tolerance to illegal hunting, as they do each year to little avail, concrete action in such cases will speak far stronger than mere words.
Back in 2007 the government had increased fines and penalties against those who breach hunting regulations, in some instances doubling the previous punitive measures applicable by the courts.
As matters stand, offences include shooting illegal species; hunting outside the stipulated season; attempting to hunt, take or destroy bird nests; hunting at sea within three kilometres from the coast; hunting and trapping at bird sanctuaries; hunting of protected species; hunting at times more than two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset; and hunting from designated beaches.
For first offences, all fines were doubled to not less than €232 and not more than €4,658 plus the suspension of hunting and firearms permits for a period of between one and three years.
Penalties were made even stiffer for repeat offenders, who, the law stipulates, should be fined between €465 and €9,317 and a jail term of between two months and two years. The courts will also order the permanent revocation of the violator’s hunting and firearms licences. Those found hunting or trapping birds without a licence will suffer the same penalties as repeat offenders.
Those caught hunting without a licence or after their licence has been revoked, meanwhile, are fined a minimum of €6,988 and up to €13,976. Such individuals will also serve a prison term of at least one year but of not more than two.
When these new fines were introduced back in 2007, they had been practically doubled in weight. But the fact that there are still those out there who persist in flagrantly flouting the law shows that those increased deterrents were simply not enough.
If the government is as serious as it says it is about its zero tolerance policy toward illegal hunting, it should perhaps think about doubling those penalties once again. Such action would certainly not constitute an affront to hunters who respect the law, and at the same time it would send the right signals to Brussels.
Such a move would also send the message to those hunters who just cannot seem to resist the temptation of forbidden quarry that such behaviour and blatant disrespect for the law will no longer be tolerated.
The government must, once and for all, give no quarter and apply a zero tolerance policy to all forms of illegal hunting. After all, its credibility is on the line in more serious terms than merely facing another slap on the wrist or punitive fines from the European Court of Justice - illegal hunting is illegal and individuals cannot be allowed to run rampant and flout the law of the land with impunity.
By adopting yet failing to implement a zero tolerance policy toward illegal hunting in the past, the government has already set a very dangerous precedent. And that precedent, if left unchecked, will be reinforced once again this year unless there is a serious crackdown on infractions of hunting laws.
Many are the laws that different citizens disagree with for different reasons but the fact of the matter is that if there is a law in place, that law must be respected. Illegalities on the level that the country witnesses during each and every spring and autumn bird migration season are not acceptable on any level.
The government must, once and for all, strictly implement the zero tolerance policy to all forms of illegal hunting that it preaches. Fines need to be increased and examples need to be made for those contemplating or continuing to indulge in illegal hunting practices. They can no longer hide behind arguments of traditional pastimes – the law is the law, full stop.
After all, the government’s credibility is on the line in more serious terms than merely facing a slap on the wrist or punitive fines from the European Commission - illegal hunting is illegal and citizens simply cannot be allowed to run rampant and flout the law of the land without impunity.